Tacos... tacos... tacos! One of my favorite foods. And now that I can cook a big batch of taco meat in the crockpot, I'm contemplating the many ways I can use that filling. One of my favorites is this easy crockpot taco soup.

Easy Crockpot Taco Soup

I've adapted this easy crockpot taco soup recipe from many that I've seen around - that usually include lots of prepackaged spice mixes and canned items. I loved the idea of the soup but all I could think about was the huge amount of salt - between the two spice mixes and all the canned items. So I thought about how I could create a healthier version of this simple recipe. It was actually a pretty easy thing to do!

Simple Recipe Tweaks

The first thing I changed for this easy crockpot taco soup was the prepackaged spice mixes. I used my own blend of homemade taco seasoning instead. Then I tackled the other ingredients. I'm fine with a few canned items but I thought this one depended on a few too many. So I switched out the beans for home cooked (and frozen! All you need to do is soak, cook, drain, rinse, cool, package, and freeze.), used frozen corn, and kept the canned tomatoes and peppers.

The toppings for the finished soup are a perfect way to add a bit of freshness to the soup - I love to top it with some fresh cilantro. My husband prefers a few slices of jalapeno pepper - definitely only for those who like the heat!

It's still a simple recipe, now just a little bit healthier. You could even use ground chicken or turkey for an even healthier version!

Easy Crockpot Taco Soup

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

1 pound taco meat

1 onion, chopped

2 cups cooked red kidney beans

2 cups frozen corn

1 - 8 ounce can tomato sauce

2 - 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes

1 cup water or chicken broth

1 - 4 ounce can diced chili peppers

1 Tablespoon taco seasoning

Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, onions, nachos, etc.

Instructions:

Place the taco meat, onion, beans, and corn in a 6-quart crockpot.

Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with liquid, and water (or chicken broth).

Add the can of diced chili peppers for spicy soup (or a partial can for less spicy flavor).